Steering walking cultivator



June 16, 1931. w. H. NOBLE STEERING WALKING CULTIVATOR Filed Dec. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l June '16, 1931. w. H. NOBLE STEERING WALKING CULTIVATOR heets-Sheet- 2 Filed Dec.

Pat cnted' June 16, 1931 P'ATEN wrLLIAM H. NOBLE, or LEPAN'ro, ARKANSAS, Ass'renon or FORT Y NINEPER CENT To A E. NOBLE, or LEPANTo. ARxANsAs' VSTEERING WALKIN ou 'rIvA'ron,

Application filed December 12, 1929. Serial No. 41a,ee3.--

1 This invention relates to improvements in steering. walking cultivators.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for steering a walking cultivator by pivotally mounting the plow beamsand coupling the same by connecting links with the pivotally mounted wheels of'the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for maintaining the plow beams of a walking cultivator in raised position.

Another objectof the invention is to provide means whereby the pivotal connection between the supporting wheels for a walking cultivator and the axle attached thereto may be made rigid so that the wheels and axle w1ll constitute a substantially integral structure. The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detalled description taken in connection with the a-c-' companying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the ap- In the drawings V Figureil. is a view. in top plan of. the cultivator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 1s a sectional vlew taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken. on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure l is a sectional view through one of the steering knuckle forks.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken trans versely of the axle and one of theplowv beam 7 collars thereon showing the connection between-the collar and the beam lifting mechanism.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of the connection'shown I in Figure 5';

Referring-more particularly tothe draw-" ings whereinlike numerals of reference in- .rected terminal portions 4.

. their respective links 21 as shown;'.

several views,--the numeral lindicates gen-Q erally the axle of the present cultivator struci ture which axle is of the usual inverted U type comprisingthe upperyoke portion 2, the. depending legs' 3 and the laterally 1 di- To each of the terminal portions'4 of the axle a fork casting 5 is secured, the arms6 of which are directed outwardly from the adjacent end portions'and substantially par: allel thereto asshown. Between the arms, 6 of each of the castings 5 a stub-axle knuckle 7 is pivotally mounted in the usual manner, upon which a wheel 8 is carried- Each of the knuckles 7 has; an arm 9 extending forwardly therefrom and each further has. a rearwardly extending hooked arm 10. The arms 9 are connected by the cross. rodll so thatpositive actuation of the wheels .8 in unison is assured. Oscillata'bly; mounted upon each of the horizontal portions f the axle is a collar-12 which has a tongue 13p'roj ecting therefrom which is received in the bifurcated forward end portion 14 of a plow beam 15, a pin 16 connectingthe furcations of the portion 14 with-the tongue 13, which pin is vertically arranged so:that lateral. swinging'movem'ent of the beam maybe effected. The rear'portionofeach beam 15 is extended at an upward inclinationiand tererally projectingsocket elements 191which are designed to be drawn-together to engage about the ball end 20 on one end of a steering link 21. The other end of each steering link is formed to provide the fork 22 between the ends. of which the apertured hooked exten sion carried by the adj acent knuckle 7 positions, a pin 23 couplingthe'extensionslO with Secured about each of the uprightportions A I 3 of the" axle is a collar 24 upon which is pivotally mounted the bellcrank member 25,*'one 1 "arm of which normally extends upwardly in any appropriateinanner to the adjacent collar 12; a 1' One means of securing the arms 28 to their espec e collars hown u. the structure i by recessingone side of the arm torecelve the collar and then employinga U-bolt 29 to engage about the collar and extend the ends thereof upwardly through the arni' for th'ereception of holding nuts-30,

In Figure 6 there is shown anotherinethod 7 forf connecting the arm 28 .vhich consists in forming one end of the arm to provide a sub. stantially semi-circularco-llar 31 having diametrically oppositely positioned cars 32 against which a? similar collar 33 positions havingears34 for connection by bolts 35 with the ears 32. a 7;

Each oflthe collars 18 carried by the plow beams'15lhas a loop 36 securedthereto and a bell cranks 25 when the plow beams are raised from the ground. "1 I I Each of the beams is designed to carry one or more depending bars SZwhich in'tu'rn car;

riesuponits lower end a plow shovel 38.

The drafttongue forthecultivator which is indicated: bythe' numeral 39, may be at;

ta'ched in'the' usual mannerto the central por tion ofthe axle 1 as'shown' and braceba rs 4O may bepr-ovi'd'ed to maintain the tongue rigid Withthe axle. I.

-T.h;e portions'6 of each otthe forks abetwe' en which the steering knuckles i 7, are mounted have formed therethrough aper- V tures- 41 and secured :aswith a chain orin may swung upwardly. after. disconnecting V some other'manner to the adjacent partof the axleis apin'42.

In theuse ofthe cultivator; embodying the presentfinventionf the attendant is" able to steer or-gui'de the same by applying lateral pressure to 2' the handles, 17 i so as to swing thesa'me and the plow beams 15 andoscil-zlate the wheel's'8. by the application-of;

pressure to the hookediext ensions 10 through the medium of the links 21. By this means the cultivator 'can be maintainedon the correct path without making the draft.

pins 23. may be'frmoved andthe pins 42-insertedithroughthe aligned apertu'resAl in the portions 6 :ef the fforks, running them through the aperturedends of the hooked ex.- tensions 10 thus locking the steering knuckles against'movement.

Whenth'e plows are not in use the beams the links 21 arid'maintainedinraised position pa t .v of h i chan m,

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a cultivator constructed in accordance with the present invention may be -much' more easily handled and more easily maintained in the proper path than c'ultie vat ors of the type wherein'the steering theieofican only be effectedby the guiding of, the draftzanimals.

Having thus described my invention, what,

h I claim 'isE-f" extending upwardly therefrom, which loops '7 are'designedto receive the'hooks 26 of the- 1A cultivator comprising an axle having a raised centralportion, a'fork carried atjeach end of the axle, a stub shaft carrying steers;

ing knuckle pivotally mountedfin each of saidforks, a'wheel carried by the stubshafteoi each knuckle, a plow beam pivotally attached to the axle adjacent eacliiend th'ereofwhere--- by both vertical and lateral-swinging 1m0.v.e.-

adapted when oscillated to efi'ect the raising of the plow beam, andfmeans for couplingv an 1 arm of each bell crank with' theadjacent.

plow beam.

2-. A cultivator comprising an axle having a raised central portion, a forkcarried at each a end ofzthe axle, a stub shaftcaryingsteeringu knuckle pivotally mounted in each'ofsaid:

forks, a wheel carried by the stub'sha'ft. of

eachknuckle, aplow beam pivotallyattached to the axle adj acent each endthere'of whereby;

both vertical and lateral swinging movement of the'same may be accomplishecha link: conjacenti steering knuckle,-' a bell crarflx ele- -ment pivotally mounted on the raised portion f of the-raxle adjacent 'each plow beam-arid adapted when oscillatedltofefiectthe raising' of the plow beam', a collar carried bygea'ch 115. nection between each plow beam andv an ad1 plow beam, and 'anelementcarried 'by'each;

collar adapted to engage an, arm ofjthezad jacent bellfcrank when the, plowbeam is raised to maintain the beamin raised posi-f tion.

3. A walking rcultivator of the character described; comprising an axle havingjanfin, verted"U-shapedcentral portion, a steering fork at eachfendof the ,axle,'a steering knu kle.

' oscillatably mounted in each fork and carrying a stub axle and a laterally directed steering arm, a wheel carried by each stub axle, a pair of plow beams each attached to the first mentioned axle and adapted to be swung vertically thereon, each of said beams further being mounted to permit lateral swinging movement, a connecting link between each of said beams and the adjacent steering arm, said links being detachably coupled with their respective steering arms, and a securing pin mounted adjacent each steering arm and adapted to secure the arm to the adjacent fork upon disconnection of the adjacent link therefrom.

4. A walking cultivator of the character described comprising an axle having an inverted U-shaped central portion, a steering fork at each end of the axle, a steering knuckle oscillatably mounted in each fork and carrying a stub axle. and a laterally directed steering arm, a wheel carried by each stub axle, a pair of plow beams each attached to the first mentioned axle and adapt ed to be swung vertically thereon, each of.

said beams further being mounted to permit lateral swinging movement, a connecting link between each of said beams and the adjacent steering arm, said links being detachably coupled with their respective steering arms, a securing pin mounted adjacent each steering arm and adapted to secure the arm to the adjacent fork upon disconnection of the adj acent link therefrom, a bell crank element mounted upon the first mentioned axle adjacent each plow beam, a link connection between one arm of each bell crank and the element coupling the adjacent plow beam to the axle whereby raising of the plow beam will be effected upon oscillationoof the bell crank, and means for coupling the other arm of each bell crank with the adjacent plow beam when the same has been raised.

5. A cultivator of the character described, comprising an axle, wheels pivotally attached to said axle to swing about a vertical axis,

a plow beam pivotally attached to said axle with a wheel whereby lateral swinging of the beam will cause oscillation of the wheel about said vertical axis, a vertically oscillatable bell crank mounted adjacent each .beam in a plane above the axle, and means connecting an arm of each crank with the adjacent beam whereby vupon disconnection of said first mentioned means and oscillation of the crank the adjacent plow beam may be raised.

In testimony whereof signature. 7

WILLIAM H. NOBLE.

I hereunto aflix my to swing vertically, a vertically oscillatable bell crank mounted in a plane above the plow beam, means connected with and actuated by said crank and connected with the plow o beam whereby upon oscillation of the crank the plow beam will be raised from the ground, and means for coupling an arm of the bell crank with said plow beam for securing the latter in raised position.

6. A cultivator of the character described, comprising an axle, a wheel attached to each end of said axle, a draft beam connected with said axle, a sleeve oscillatably secured to said axle, a plow beam attached to said sleeve,

a vertical arm carried by said sleeve, and

oscillatable bell crank mounted in a plane above said sleeve, and a link connecting one arm of the crank with said arm whereby 

